Our Board
Workpower’s Board of Directors unites industry professionals from a range of backgrounds. Our Directors’ wealth of executive experience, combined with their passion for disability services, enable them to provide strong leadership and governance for our organisation.
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CHAIRPERSON
Melanie is an experienced non-executive director, serving on a variety of government and not-for-profit boards. Prior to her board career, she was a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills, with more than 20 years’ experience providing legal advice on the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects in the water and natural resources, health and mining industries.
She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Law Society of Western Australia and holds a Bachelor of Law/Arts from Murdoch University.
Melanie joined our Board in 2017, and was appointed Chairperson in 2019.
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DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON
Angelo Chiappini has held key management positions over the past 21 years with various engineering companies spanning key industries of oil and gas, mining, marine and power generation – including more than a decade at Woodside and at Barclay Engineering – Angelo now holds a management position at a leading marine technology manufacturer.
He is completing an MBA and holds a Diploma in Business Management and Project Management.
Angelo joined our board in 2019 and was appointed Deputy Chairperson in 2020.
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DIRECTOR
Geoff Blades has been employed in management consultancy and executive search for more than three decades. He is a founding Partner of one of WA’s renowned executive search and board advisory consultancy companies.
Geoff’s consulting assignments are predominantly CEO and other senior executive appointments across all industry and professional sectors, including for public and private companies, state and local governments, and within the community and not-for-profit sectors.
Geoff joined our Board in 2015.
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DIRECTOR
Frances Buchanan is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history in the human services industry, and qualifications in health and business management.
She is highly skilled in non-for-profit organisations with a focus in leadership, community engagement, and strategy.
Frances has previously held senior roles at Rocky Bay and National Disability Services, and is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of a community services organisation, a community services organisation that supports people with disability to achieve independence through personal and home assistance, and accommodation options. Frances joined our Board in 2021.
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DIRECTOR
Danny Cloghan ceased as a Commissioner of the Fair Work Commission in October 2016 and established his own workplace consultancy. Danny is a Conciliator to the INPEX Ichthys LNG Project and Arbitrator for Rio Tinto’s Fair Treatment System. Prior to being appointed as a Commissioner in the Fair Work Commission, Danny had extensive experience in the State Public sector including nearly 10 years, as a Chief of Staff to a Minister of the State.
Danny has a Masters of Industrial Relations and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australasian Mutuals Institute of Australia, an Associate of both the Governance Institute of Australia and Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and holds a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.
Danny joined our Board in 2015.
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DIRECTOR
Linda Dawson is a senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience working in large Australian and multinational organisations across the resources and utilities sectors.
She currently holds a Deputy Director position in the WA State Government.
Linda currently serves as a Board Member for numerous organisations including Midland Women’s Health Care Place, Sir Charles Gardiner and Osborne Park Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee, Scitech, AROSE, International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, and the UWA Defence Security Institute.
She holds a Masters of Education and Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Western Australia, is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Certified Professional of the Australian Human Resource Institute and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Linda joined our Board in 2020.
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FINANCE DIRECTOR
Leanne Karamfiles is an experienced Partner, with more than three decades of experience in external audit, financial reporting, and corporate governance.
She has worked with organisations and agencies across healthcare, financial services, mining, education, property and government. Leanne is currently the Ethics & Conduct Leader for Deloitte Australia.
Leanne is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an Affiliate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Leanne joined our Board as Finance Director in 2018.
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DIRECTOR
Garth Walter is a senior executive with more than 25 years’ experience across multinational private and local public organisations in infrastructure, mining, utilities, project investment and facility management sectors.
He currently holds a Managing Director position for a global innovation and high-value projects company. He also holds Director, Partner and President roles of various companies and sits on the management committee of his local surf life saving club.
Garth holds a Masters of Business Administration, an Associate Degree in Viticulture, and a Bachelor of Engineering. He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member of Engineers Australia and the Australian Water Association, where he is a former Board Member and is currently WA President.
Garth joined our Board in 2020.